The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-01-20

composition, perhaps SOME uay LnlSnI
produce something that would cause the
world to give little bit of praise to
Helen Gwinettr'
She sighed little despondently, but
she pasted the drawing in position at
the head of the story she had written
out, and made all the manuscript into
compact bundle. which she wrapped in
u brown paper, and placed in the bot
/ tom of her lunch-basket.
| Then. after glance at the fire. to see
that 1t was properly banked. she un-
dressed and crept into bed beside her
sleeping sister.
Before sunrise the next morning, she
was up and prepared the simple break
fast, and Il noonday lunch for herself
and ESse
When, presently. Essie awoke, she
washed and dressed the child, and they
ate breakfast together.
At half-past six Nell kissed Essie
goodbye. laid two or three well-worn
books within reach of the helpless child.
and seiz!ng her lunch-basket, tripped
Inerriiy away 10 work.
Nell worked in Il great printing and
publishing house, and earned pound a
week.
1t seemed pitiful sum; and she hard
" knew how She made ends meet with
it; but she was rigid economist, and
generally had a few pennies with which
to buy delicacies for her little invalid
sister, who had been her constant care
since, two years before. they were left
orphans.
Nell had dav-dreams sometimes, but
Iii int ,vIfb ha ntiaal
issues of life. and the foreman of the
room where she worked considered her
his best hand.
On the floor above was the bindery.
Nell knew the foreman, middle
aged Scotchman, who had been in the
employ of the firm since boyhood, and
that day at noon she sought him out in
his little office, rallied off in one corner
of the great room.
"Mr, Carnagie." she said. breaking
the string that confined the manuscript
of her book, Il want to ask favor of
YOU"
"Well?" said the foreman interroga-
lively. speaking with strong Scotch
accent.
''Pve got some manuscript here
some little stories that / have written
out from time to time for my crippled
sisters benefit. If were rich I'd have
them printed, although I'm not fool
enough to believe they possess any
merit except for her. I've made the
manuscript rs much like book-page as
possible, with wide margins all around,
| and want to know if you'll bind it for
me in one of those pretty gift-book
covers, with these letters stamped in gold
on the front, .'Essie in tairyland,~ by
Sister Nell L want to"
Il can't do itI' said the foreman.
little gruffly, shaking his head; Its
contrary to orders. One of those gift
bindings is worth five shiliings. You'll
| have to see the manager downstairs.
lie don't hire me to give away his
stock"
Very WE'LL" cried Nell, snatching
up the manuscript with defiant toss
of her head. I've done'you many
favors, and you can do this if you want
to- It's not likely that I'd ask the
manager, but the books got to be bound
if it costs me Il weeks pay"
She liounced out of the room, the
angry crimson dyeing her face, and
went straight to the business office
downstairs.
''What'Il it cost 10 have this bound in
one of those fancy gift book covers?"
she asked OF Mr.. johnson. the busi-
ness mHna~cr Of the house. not noticing
that Alr Cyril Cawthorne, the junior
member OF the great publishing mouse
of Iawihorne and Son. and the head of
the literary department, WAS standing
close besiIe the business managers
high desk.
MIR. johnson picked up the package
of manuscript, ON the first page of
which WAS IL picture done in water
coorS, crude, like all the rest, but tdrawn
and colored by the same free hand that
gave 10 all her pietures life and char
acter,
He glanced from it to the face of the
girl,
You're one of our young women up
stairs, are YOU not?' he asked.
~ cs. sir.
..lL is not our custom to charge EN-
ployes anything for little jobs like
this" and turning to young Mr.. Caw-
thorne. he handed him Neil's precious
manuscript. We won't charge one of
our hands anything for binding this"
Mr.. Cawthorne took the manuscript,
and. without answering, began turn
ing the leaves.
The manager walked away, leaving
Nell still standing in front of the desk.
Mr.. Cawthorne seemed interested III
reading what the girl had written
down, and in examining her crude
pictures, for the minutes passed away,
and he neither looked at her nor spoke.
When the hands on the clio above
the desk indicated five minutes OF one,
Nell ventured to break the silence.
If YOU please, sir" she began, Il.
where did you get these stories!
demanded MIR. Cawthorne with sudden
earnestness, tapping the manuscript
with his long forefinger, and raising his
specialized eyes to NelPs face.
They are mine," she answered. 81
wrote them out"
"Do you mean to say that you com
, posed them, and that these drawings are
yours"
Yes. sir. know they are not very
good. but my little lame sister think:
} they are grand. and it is to please hel
that put them in that shape. and wan
, them bound, so that she can read then
| over while am at work. "
.Ahem! Miss"
, "Gwinett."
, Yes; Miss Gwinett. want to talk tc
/ you. Walk into my office. please"
, And before Nell could realize what i
: all meant, she found herself seated il
the publishers private office, telling
him the story of her life, and how thu
, farv-stories came to be written, and al
her hopes and plans and ambitions.
When ut length she finished. the pub
r Usher spoke with an earnestness tina
q nearly took Nell's breath away.
| These stories." he said. "are capita
at least, if can judge from one tina
: | have Just read and your sister is
most excellent critic. Our house ha
I been wanting to publish book lik
. this for some time, and if you'll ALLOW
G me, I'll make you an offer for the manu-
. script-including the sketches"
f "Sir?" said Nellie.
Q And she began to feel faint an
n oidtlv, and the room swan around hel
"l'il give you one hundred pound
=. down, and. if the book proves the sue
n cess that ! venture to say it will, tn
G usual royalty after all expenses hav
c been paid. | make this offer withou